Early Bird

The latest on Covid-19 and campus operations

State and local trends, upcoming events and staying safe through the holiday season.

By Larry Sampler, chief operating officer

November 18, 2021

Dear Roadrunners,

As I write to you this week, MSU Denver is hosting the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference volleyball tournament, we are about to officially enter the holiday season and fall Commencement is just a few weeks away.

Especially through this busy season, we need to make wise, community-minded health choices. Please:

• Adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel guidelines for U.S. citizens as well as State of Colorado health, safety and travel guidance.
• Consider getting tested before you travel to avoid potential spread of Covid-19.
• Continue to wear masks in situations where virus spread is more likely.
• Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.
• If you are sick or have symptoms, don’t travel to, host or attend a gathering.

Commencement update

In keeping with health-and-safety best practices, state and local guidelines, and Colorado Convention Center protocols, the capacity for fall Commencement is more modest and controlled than past ceremonies and all attendees will be masked. As a reminder, general-admission spectators will not be allowed, and faculty and staff members must have signed up as volunteers to attend.

We are also keeping a close eye on a recently amended Public Health Order requiring proof of vaccination for admission to all unseated, open-to-the-public indoor events of 500 or more people in several metro-Denver counties. MSU Denver has confirmed with the Colorado Convention Center and the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment that Commencement attendees do not need to be fully vaccinated because of the private, seated nature of the event. However, we strongly recommend that all attendees be vaccinated and note that masks will be required for the duration of the event, unless actively eating or drinking.

The Roadrunners Safe Return and University Events teams are staying on top of the situation and planning for contingencies should the Public Health Order be amended to include stricter language. At the very least, I expect that more and more organizations, venues and facilities will require proof of vaccination for entry. On that note, I strongly encourage all vaccinated Roadrunners to download the My Colorado app to ensure that you have quick and easy access to your vaccination information.

Get vaccinated, get boosted

I am pleased to report that the Health Center at Auraria administered 247 booster shots Wednesday and has consistently topped 200 daily shots for more than a week. This is promising, but Colorado now ranks No. 2 in the country for increases in virus-positivity rates.

At MSU Denver, our positivity rate has increased slightly to 3.44% but is still much lower than the statewide rate of 9.97% and the citywide rate of 7.16%. While those are humbling numbers, the hope is that transmission will stabilize as more and more people get vaccinated.

If you are not yet fully vaccinated, the Health Center at Auraria offers free, convenient vaccination services for all Roadrunners and eligible community members. However, remember that the Health Center will be closed Nov. 25-26 as well as Dec. 24–Jan. 2.

See more details about our spring health and safety protocols in an email later today and please continue to check the Safe Return Faculty and Staff Guide for health and safety details.

For any questions not addressed on the website, please contact roadrunnersafereturn@msudenver.edu. Thank you again for your hard work in supporting our safe return to campus.  

Sincerely,    

Larry Sampler    
Vice president for Administration, Finance and Facilities and chief operating officer